Fixing clamp for windows, which is intended for motor vehicle window regulators

ABSTRACT

It comprises a one-piece fastening body having a complete and/or continuous cross-section with two lateral walls spaced apart each other a distance for receiving the end of the window pane defining a U-shape the branches of which have an edge rounded inward to the body for insertion of the window pane. One of the walls has a protrusion that is fitted into a hole of the end of the window pane and it extends inwardly toward the opposed wall having a vertical groove at the free end thereof to expand it as it is fitted into the hole of the window pane. The other wall of the body has a hole formed in an area corresponding to the protrusion of the opposed wall for releasing the window from the fastening body. The body has a bottom surface for supporting the window pane made of an elastic material for taking-up vibrations and tolerances.

The present invention relates, as stated in its title, to a fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles, which novel manufacturing, conformation and design features fulfil the purpose to which it has been specifically conceived, with a maximum safety and effectiveness and with many advantages, as will be fully disclosed hereinafter in the present specification.

Power window devices of motor vehicles comprise, according to the current state of the art, an electric motor (or a manually operated crank handle) that drives a pulley causing driving cables to be pulled thus making a sliding fastening device to be slid. Said sliding fastening device is moved along a guide forcing the window pane to be driven upward or downward through the corresponding guides and joints fitted in the door or frame of the vehicle door.

Fastening devices in conventional power window devices are usually formed by a body provided with a main fastening tab auxiliary fastening tabs formed in a staggered position at the upper portion thereof. Between said tabs, the lower end of the window pane is housed, which is anchored as stated below.

Said main fastening tab includes a protrusion fitted into a hole formed at the lower end of the window pane with the purpose of being coupled therein and being forced to be moved upward or downward together with the fastening device.

The hole in the window pane is usually an elongated hole and in general it is usually bigger in size than the protrusion with the purpose of speeding up the assembly of the window pane in the power window device.

There exist fastening devices for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles having an improved configuration in which longitudinal flanges are provided, at the upper portion of the fastening device body, formed at both sides of the main fastening tab defining, between them and said body upper portion, respective housings for receiving a cylindrical elastic member (an elastomeric member made by extrusion) extending in a strip projecting outwards from each housing extending on the upper portion of each flange on which the end of the window pane rests.

Although this type of fastening device of the lower end of the window pane has been an effective solution for window pane movement, it is a solution which costs may be reduced by modifying its configuration and consequently its production process. Another of the disadvantages of the fastening devices in known power window devices is that the configuration of the tabs does not show a suitable mechanical strength during the power window device operation.

The invention provides a fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles providing substantial improvements regarding the prior art fastening devices, especially in terms of resistance due to a greater rigidity of the gripper body and expenses of production due to a simpler production.

The gripper of the invention comprises a fastening body, made for example of plastic (POM), having at least a fastening tab or protrusion intended to be fitted into the hole formed at the lower end of the window pane. The gripper body of the present invention is advantageously a one-piece body. This one-piece body has two lateral walls being a complete and/or continuous surface with the purpose of providing a good flexion to strength ratio. The lateral walls are spaced apart to each other an appropriate distance for receiving said lower end of the window pane. One of said walls of the piece body is provided with said protrusion extending inward to the opposed wall, while the other wall of the fastening body has a hole formed in an area corresponding to the protrusion intended to gain access for releasing the window pane from the fastening body.

In one embodiment, the gripper is configured in such a way that the body thereof is a solid body having a U-shaped cross section. Cross-section of the surface may be varied, although the condition that said surface has to be complete and/or continuous must be met according to the invention. The branches in said U-shaped cross-section have an edge rounded inward to the body acting as a ramp to allow insertion of the window pane end in assembly operations. This U-shaped body has a bottom surface in which said branches are joined acting as a support for the lower end of the window pane. In said lower support surface there is provided a support made of an elastic material, preferably an elastomeric material (rubber, PVC, etc.) pushing the window pane up thus ensuring the fastening of the window pane, taking up vibrations and tolerances.

With a thickness smaller than the conventional fastening, a greater rigidity and high mechanical strength are obtained which remain stable during power window device operation in rising and lowering movements of the window pane. By way of an example, where the gripper plastic body in prior art fastening devices was made having a thickness larger than 2 mm, the U-shaped solid body of the gripper in the present invention may be made having a thickness ranging from 1 to 2 mm with a rigidity equal to or greater than the conventional fastening devices. In addition, there is no pull strength limitation from the POM material (failure) as well as elasticity to flexion on fastening, since, as it is a complete surface, smaller thickness may be used, maintaining a good pull strength and a better flexion.

Preferably, the gripper protrusion has, at the free end thereof, a vertical groove allowing it to be expanded as it is fitted into said hole formed at the lower end of the window pane for reducing tolerances.

The features and the advantages of the fastening device for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicle of the present invention will be clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof. This description will be given hereinafter by way of a non limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a fastening device for window panes in a power window device of motor vehicles;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the device in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device in FIG. 1.

The elements in the figures herein attached are as follows:

(1) fastening body;

(2, 3) lateral walls of the fastening body;

(4) window pane;

(5) protrusion;

(6) hole of the window pane;

(7) vertical groove of the protrusion;

(8) support member of elastic material;

(9) slider;

(10) grooves of the slider;

(11) box for terminals;

(12) access hole for window pane disassembly; and

(13) elastic leg.

The device that is herein described according to the enclosed figures comprises a fastening body made of, for example, plastic (POM), generally referenced by (1) in the figures. The fastening body (1) is joined to a slider (9) running along the guide rail of the power window device (not shown) through grooves (10) wherein said rail passes. The slider (9) is provided, as shown in FIG. 2, with a box for terminals (11) inside of which an elastic leg (13) is provided for avoiding noise.

The fastening body (1) is a one-piece body having a substantially U-shaped, constant cross-section, resulting in a good flexion to mechanical strength ratio.

It has two lateral walls (2, 3) slightly open outward by its upper ends to allow insertion of the lower edge of the window pane (4), as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings attached in the present specification. For this purpose, said lateral walls (2, 3) of the fastening body (1) are spaced apart to each other an appropriate distance for receiving said lower end of the window pane (4).

The lateral wall (2) is provided with a protrusion (5) extending inwardly to the fastening body (1) which is intended to be fitted into a hole (6) formed at the lower end of the window pane (4). According to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, protrusion (5) of the device is provided with a vertical groove (7) at the free end thereof allowing it to be expanded as it is fitted into the hole (6) of the window pane (4) for reducing tolerances once it has been fitted therein. This vertical groove (7) causes the expansion of the free end or head of the protrusion (5) before it is fitted into the hole (6) of the window pane (4) of the motor vehicle. This head of the protrusion (5) is tightly fitted into said hole (6) so that it is fitted snugly therein once it is expanded in such a way that unwanted tolerances are eliminated.

The opposed lateral wall (3) has a hole (12) for gaining access in order to detach the window pane (4) by pressing the protrusion (5) of the opposed wall (2) in the fastening body (1) for disassembling it in repair and maintenance operations.

As it can be seen from figs, at the bottom of the fastening body (1) a support member is provided made of an elastic material or rubber strip (8) for supporting the window pane (4) intended to ensure fastening, and for taking-up vibrations and tolerances.

It should also be noted that the fastening device for window panes disclosed may be combined perfectly with the configuration described in the Utility Model U9802568 of the same applicant of the present application, in which the gripper or fastening body allowed a small angular play of the window pane relative to its support, with which a first rotation and a second rotation are achieved by means of a slider hinge with a support extension or bridge joining it.

The materials of the elements in the fastening device for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles of the present invention, as well as shapes, sizes and other accessory elements may be suitably substituted with others being technically equivalents, unless departing from essentiality of the present invention or the inventive concept thereof as defined in the appended claims. 

1. Fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices for motor vehicles comprising a fastening body (1) provided with a protrusion (5) intended to be fitted into a hole (6) formed at the lower end of the window pane (4), characterized in that said body (1) is a one-piece element having a complete and/or continuous cross-section having two lateral walls (2, 3) spaced apart to each other a suitable distance for receiving said lower end of the window pane (4), one of said walls (2, 3) having said protrusion (5) extending inwardly to the opposed wall (2, 3).
 2. Fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said fastening body (1) is a generally U-shaped body the branches of which have an edge rounded inward to the body to allow insertion of the end of the window pane (4).
 3. Fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said fastening body (1) has a bottom surface for supporting the window pane (4) having a support member (8) made of an elastic material intended to push said window pane (4) upward for fastening it, taking up vibrations and tolerances.
 4. Fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a vertical groove (7) is formed at the free end of said protrusion (5) for allowing it to be expanded as it is fitted into said hole (6) formed at the lower end of the window pane (4) for reducing tolerances.
 5. Fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the other wall (2, 3) of the fastening body (1) has a hole (12) formed in an area corresponding to the protrusion (5) of the opposed wall (2, 3) intended for gaining access for releasing the window from the fastening body (1).
 6. Fastening gripper for window panes in power window devices of motor vehicles as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said body (1) is a variable cross-section one-piece element. 